United Nations

At the United Nations since its founding conference in San Francisco, B'nai B'rith International maintains full-time representation at U.N. agencies around the world. Able to present its concerns at numerous levels of the world body, B’nai B’rith posts on-the-ground representatives at U.N. agencies in cities including New York, Geneva and Paris, and also regularly participates in non-governmental organization (NGO) committees. We are officially accredited by multiple U.N. arms − among them the Economic and Social Council, the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

For more information on the history and work of our United Nations office, click here.

Successive leaders of the United Nations have recognized B'nai B'rith's role. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has acknowledged as "influential" and "very powerful" the part played by the organization. His predecessor, Kofi Annan, noted that B'nai B'rith "brings long experience and a global presence" to its work, with a "continuing role to play in promoting a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." He added that the United Nations should always be "a place where Jews and the State of Israel can feel at home."

B'nai B'rith realizes that because the U.N. reflects the world, it is a broken home − one we must perpetually work to repair. That is why the Office of United Nations Affairs conducts such programs as commemorations at United Nations Headquarters itself marking the international day of Holocaust remembrance, leadership delegations to the Human Rights Council, and high-level advocacy marathons targeting heads of state and government on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly session.

B'nai B'rith leaders routinely meet with U.N. officials and ambassadors to discuss priority Jewish concerns such as combating and eliminating antisemitism and anti-Zionism; ensuring equality and fair treatment for Israel at the U.N.; highlighting the illicit nuclear ambitions and terrorist activity of Iran; and protecting the fundamental rights and dignity of people everywhere.

In February 2013, B'nai B'rith joined UNESCO in the denunciation of anti-Semitic representations at the Aalst Carnival.

B'nai B'rith Leads Israel Visit for U.N. Diplomats

In 2016, B'nai B'rith International and the B'nai B'rith World Center facilitated a visit to Israel for diplomats from around the globe posted at key agencies of the United Nations.

​The trip's goal was to promote the Jewish State as an influential leader in education, technology, agriculture and medicine. It also allowed participants to immerse themselves in Israel’s culture by touring the Old City of Jerusalem and visiting Yad Vashem.

The missions included meetings with key officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the diplomats discussed European Union-Israel relations and the labeling of products made in the West Bank and Golan Heights.

Additionally, the visits were crucial in shining a light on the widespread inattention to a growing wave of terrorism targeting Israelis, and provided the diplomats with direct exposure to Israel’s extraordinary security challenges, diverse democracy and global humanitarianism.

United Nations General Assembly 2016

A B’nai B’rith International delegation, led by B’nai B’rith President Gary P. Saltzman and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, met with dozens of world leaders during the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York throughout the last week in September 2016. 

During these meetings, the delegation discussed Iranian support for terrorism, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the rise in global anti-Semitism. Among the dozens of scheduled meetings were discussions with: President of Argentina Mauricio Macri; President of Poland Andrzej Duda; President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Foreign Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault.

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B'nai B'rith Holocaust Restitution Event during the U.N Holocaust Remembrance Program

Contact Us

For more information, please call 212-557-0019 or email us at un@bnaibrith.org.